A West Asheville community group — the East West Asheville Neighborhood Association — is trying to raise awareness of the increase of large over-the-road tractor-trailer traffic on Haywood Road when the New Belgium brewery is built.

Initial plans cite Haywood Road as the primary truck route. But EWANA neighbors see this as a step backwards in what has been a long, slow climb towards Haywood Road becoming more pedestrian- and bike-friendly.

“We are not against the brewery, not at all. But we do want our concerns heard about truck traffic on Haywood Road,” said Joshua Martin, an EWANA member. “There are alternatives, and we are urging the city to look at them.”

The group believes that Riverside Drive north of Lyman Street is a more appropriate truck route. The 100-year old problem with that is the yellow railroad trestle over the street and the French Broad River; the trestle has a low, 13-foot clearance (modern trucks need 13 feet, 6 inches) and the angle of the roadway to the bridge is tight.

The group has a petition and is continuing to meet with Asheville City staff, political leaders, New Belgium and others. They ask anyone interested to sign the petition, join the facebook page, or attend the next meeting on Jan. 16 16th, 6-8 pm, at Sol’s Reprieve, 11 Richland Avenue.

About Bill Rhodes

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